Student Production takes a cultural look at a classic story with “Antígona Furiosa”

WHAT: Student Production in the Herberger College of Fine Arts at ASU presents “Antígona Furiosa,” an abstract retelling of the Greek classic “Antigone.” This play deals with issues of remembrance and the struggle against oppression. “Antígona Furiosa” examines Argentinean culture and its struggle through years of deep and violent political structure.

Student Production is a student-driven organization within the Department of Theatre that is committed to providing opportunity, resources and support to ASU students who are ready for the challenge of bringing their artistic vision to life.

WHEN: November 17-19 at 7:30 p.m.

WHERE: The Student Laboratory Theatre at the Prism, 851 E. Tyler Street in the Ritter Building on the ASU campus (northwest corner of Terrace and Rural, just south of University Drive). 

TICKETS: $3 available at the door only.

INFORMATION, TICKETS: Call 480-727-7877 or e-mail: student_production@hotmail.com

“Antígona Furiosa” retells the classic story of “Antigone,” the story of a princess wanting to bury her brother despite the law's refusal to let her do so. This retelling is placed in terms of Argentinean history, where thousands of women wanted only to know where their children were.

Known as the Mothers of the Disappeared, these women banded together to speak out against a government who had kidnapped, held, tortured and even killed these women's spouses and children. The parallel between Argentinean history and the story of Antigone helps give understanding to a classic play that may not seem relevant to today's times and also helps to show the struggles that have taken place in Argentinean life.

Griselda Gambaro, author of “Antígona Furiosa,” wrote the play in order to challenge issues of violence, oppression, and dominance in Argentina and in today's society.
Director Laura Dougherty, a graduate student at Arizona State University, finds herself deeply connected and very close to this story of Argentinean culture. She has studied the political and social situations of Latin America for years and studied in Chile for a semester during her undergraduate years. She looks at this story and this theme as a culmination of years of study, empathy, and passion and finds it a necessary message for today's audiences.

“I believe the themes of the play –struggle and remembrance, and remembrance through struggle – resound in Argentina and everywhere. It's somehow entirely hopeful despite its destitute nature," Dougherty says.

“Antígona Furiosa” is the second-to-last show in the Student Production 2002 fall semester. Ending the season is the classic story of the bible with some new twists and turns in “The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told,” by Paul Rudnick, running December 8-10.

Media Contact:
Megan Krause
480-965-8795
megan.krause@asu.edu